Monday, July 21, 2008

the journey of my quilt top

It started as a quilt top. Just a top. My mother purchased it for us about ten years ago. To make memories on. And if you can believe this, the woman who made it, charged her ten dollars. The woman said that she didn't do it for the money. She just loved to do it. This quilt top was hand stitched. Perfect little stitches. 928, 2x2 squares. (Oh, come on, you knew that I would count.) It measures 87"x 79".(the five of us. july 2002. i think that i was making peanut butter and jelly sandwich # 3,192. i can't even imagine how many pb&j's that i have made in their lifetime.)

Well, the quilt top was used. Just the top. We have used it on every road trip we have ever taken. On every picnic we have ever had.

For years I have wanted to finish this quilt. Well, the years keep coming. And the quilt top is still, just a top.The kids keep growing. And still. It is just a top.Until last weekend. When I decided it was time. We have a little road trip coming up and I was not going to have my family sitting on a top. Just a top. Again. So, I got busy. And I sandwiched. Three times. To try to get it right. With heavy chairs holding my huge piece of fabric that I used for the back. And the entire time I was pinning, I was thinking about the walking foot that Erin told me I needed. And about how I still hadn't purchased it. And about how there was no way that I was going to get to a store to purchase a walking foot. And I was thinking about the woman who had hand stitched all of those pieces together. And it was like that woman whispered to me, "Just hand stitch it, for goodness sakes!"

So that is what I did. And I sat with that quilt on my lap. With all of those pins. And I was miserable. And I wondered why people don't use safety pins instead of straight pins to hold it together. When I told my mother, she just giggled and said, "Yes, people use safety pins, and there are actually curved safety pins made just for quilting. " Who knew? Oh, besides all of you quilters. (Hmmm. Telling that story may just rank right up there with my freezer paper story.)

Those things are seriously the best thing ever invented.

I worked on it all week. With a marathon stitching day yesterday. And finally, I have finished our picnic blanket. And I love it so much. With all of its uneven stitches. And puckers. And memories.

oh, picnic quilt memories. are always good. yours included. for sure. we have an heirloom picnic quilt in our family. and i would like to make one for h-kun and it. yep. good job on finishing your blanket!

I have a friend who is an avid quilter and when I quilted my first item (placemats) and asked her about a walking foot, she'd never heard of it and has only even used her regular machine foot or done the stitches by hand. See the walking foot is over rated ;)

As much work as it was for you doing it the way many women have before you, by roughing it and doing hand stiches, it is what makes that the best quilt ever! Enjoy your bottom!

I love this story. I love it. And I love that you hand stitched the back on - despite the misery. It just seems so... *right*. Some things just get infused with memories - without ever really intending that it should be that way - and they make the greatest stories. And this is one of them!

Is there anything you don't do? I still want sheet sleep pants, don't know how to knit, and I have tons of jean squares already cut, that need to be sewn together for a quilt. Can I have a cup of your talent?

Good job! That is no small undertaking! I'm with you on the PB & J count. It comes up a lot around here. I have a feeling there's a walking foot in my future...I love the picture of you holding the quilt.

Wow - that is very, very impressive - I can't believe all the work! And in just one week! But now are you going to let people sit on it in -GASP - the grass? After all that work? You're a nice mommy. I'd be all like, GET OFF MY QUILT, DARN IT! It's going on the wall. And then never hanging it, either, because, well, I never actually get around to hanging things. So yeah. Your way is probably better. Way more fun. I stink.

I found your blog via my dear friend, Mette at Erleperle. So glad I dropped by here to see your wonderful photographs of such beautiful hand made things! This quilt is so stunning! I get so inspired by reading a blog like yours! Happy weekend and happy crafting!~Emily